Cactaceae plant

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family provides specimens that combine an upright, compact growth habit with a faster growth rate and a greater natural tendency to branch and produce a larger number of phylloclades without inducement by pruning than the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties of the truncatus species. The new variety provides specimens with phylloclades which are usually smaller in width and length dimensions than those of the `Lavender Doll` variety. The specimens of the new plant variety have a substantially greater resistance to flower bud abscission than exhibited by the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties and also have resistances to nutrient deficiencies and fungus type diseases that are comparable to such varieties. The bloom usually occurs later in the growing season than that of the `Lavender Doll` variety and it has a life of from about 6 to about 9 days. The tube laminating and tube forming tepals are characterized by marginal blade areas that in color are dominated by reddish purple and purplish red hues which penetrate deeply into the center field areas of the blades to provide a magenta appearing bloom coloration. The perianth tube is characterized by randomly arranged streaks or striations which in color are dominated by purplish pink hues and the variety is characterized by a degenerate carina that appears as a generally superior extension at the throat of the perianth tube. The style of the new variety is also commonly longer than those of the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties.

The invention relates to a new and distinct plant variety of theCactaceae family and which has been named the Zygocactus truncatus`Christmas Magic` by the inventors.

Certain plant varieties of the Cactaceae family are well known in thefoliage plant market and among these is the Zygocactus truncatus varietycommonly known as the `Christmas Cheer` variety. This variety and itsrelated varieties tend to bloom in the months of November and Decemberin the Northern Hemisphere and hence their appearance in the retailmarket area is primarily during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

The `Christmas Cheer` variety has what may be called a "salmon" colorand among its descendants are the varieties of the truncatus specieswhich have been named the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle`.

The `Lavender Doll` variety has a generally "purplish" colored bloom andits characteristics are set forth in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,690. The`Kris Kringle` variety, on the other hand, has a generally "reddish"colored bloom and its characteristics are generally set forth in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 3,688. Both of these patented varieties have a moreupright, compact appearance than specimens of the `Christmas Cheer`variety.

A general objective of the invention has been to develop a variety ofthe Cactaceae family which preserves or improves upon the upright,compact growth habits of the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle`varieties but which has a bloom color that is distinguishable from thesevarieties. Yet another objective of the invention has been to develop avariety which exhibits greater resistance to flower bud abscission thanexhibited by the above named patented varieties.

The objectives of the invention have been fully realized by thedevelopment of the new plant variety hereinafter described in detail.The new plant variety was developed in a nursery located at WinterGarden, Fla., as a hybrid secured by cross pollinating the flower of aplant specimen of a variety developed by the inventors from a vegetativemutation that appeared on a specimen of the `Lavender Doll` variety withpollen from a plant specimen of the `Kris Kringle` variety. The seedstaken from the fertilized seed pod were cultivated at the mentionednursery location and after prolonged observation of the seedlings, thehybridized plant of the new plant variety was selected and asexuallyreproduced by the inventors at the Winter Garden nursery by thepropagation of stem cuttings taken from the original hybrid plant. Thematernal plant variety is a research variety that has not appeared onthe market. The variety generally resembles the `Lavender Doll` varietyexcept that it has slightly larger phylloclades and flower blooms and itexhibits poorer natural tendencies to branch without inducement bypruning during a growth period prior to blooming so that it has a lesscompact appearance in comparison to the `Lavender Doll` variety.

Through successive propagations, it has been ascertained that specimensof the new plant variety generally resemble the parent varieties but aredistinguishable from these varieties and from other related varietiesknown to the inventors by a growth habit which is evident in plantspecimens propagated and grown under nursery conditions utilized in thegrowing of tropical plants at Winter Garden, Fla., as combining thefollowing principal characteristics:

1. Upright, compact specimens that in comparison to the `Lavender Doll`and `Kris Kringle` varieties have a faster growth rate with a greaternatural tendency to branch and produce a larger number of phyllocladeswithout inducement by pruning during the growth period prior to initialblooming,

2. Phylloclades with commonly smaller width and length dimensions thanthose of the `Lavender Doll` variety,

3. A substantially greater resistance to flower bud abscission than the`Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties and resistances to nutrientdeficiencies and fungus type diseases that are comparable to the `KrisKringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties,

4. A generally "magenta" bloom coloration, with the bloom having

a. an occurrence that is commonly from about 1 week to about 3 weekslater than that of comparably grown specimens of the `Lavender Doll`variety,

b. a bloom life of from about 6 to about 9 days,

c. tube laminating and tube forming tepals with marginal blade areasthat in color are dominated by reddish purple and/or purplish red hueswhich deeply penetrate into the center field areas of the blades,

d. a perianth tube with a basic field that is translucent white andhaving randomly arranged longitudinally extending streaks or striationsthat in color are dominated by purplish pink hues,

e. a carina which is degenerated at the throat of the perianth tube to agenerally superior extension thereof, and

f. a style that is commonly longer than those of the `Lavender Doll` and`Kris Kringle` varieties.

The accompanying drawings serve by color photographic means toillustrate the new plant variety and wherein the upper photograph on onesheet illustrates an 11 month old plant specimen that was propagated inJanuary and pruned to one tier above the propagated stem cutting inJune, while the lower photograph on the sheet shows a 6 month old plantspecimen that was propagated in June and permitted to branch withoutinducement by pruning. A second sheet contains a close-up photograph ofa bloom and the third sheet contains photographs further illustratingthe bloom and bloom parts.

The following is a detailed descripton of the new plant variety withcolors and hues, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the text throughthe absence of color notations being named in accord with the ISCC-NBSMethod of Designating Colors, (U.S. Department of Commerce, NationalBureau of Standards, Circular 553, issued No. 1, 1955) the named colorsbeing interpreted from color notations derived by comparison with thecolor specimens in the current "Neighboring Hues Edition" of the MunsellBook of Color, published by the Munsell Color Company, Inc., ofBaltimore, Md. The description is further based on observations of wellfertilized plants of less than 1 year of age from initial propagationand which were grown under 50-75% shaded glasshouse nursery conditionsin the Winter Garden, Fla., area and wherein temperatures range from60°-85° F. during the winter months, from 75° to 95° F. during thesummer months, and are ambient during the intervening periods.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

Name: Zygocactus truncatus `Christmas Magic`

Parentage:

Maternal.--Unnamed and unmarketed variety generally resembling theZygocactus truncatus `Lavender Doll` variety but with slightly largerphylloclades and blooms and with poorer natural branchingcharacteristics than exhibited by the `Lavender Doll` variety.

Paternal.--Zygocactus truncatus `Kris Kringle`.

Classification:

Botanic (Britton and Rose, the Cactaceae, Constable and Co., Ltd.,London 1937, Vol IV).--

    ______________________________________                                        (1) Family:    Cactaceae                                                      (2) Tribe:     Cereeae                                                        (3) Sub-tribe: Epiphyllanae                                                   (4) Genus:     Zygocactus                                                     (5) Species:   truncatus (Haworth) Schumann                                   ______________________________________                                    

Commercial.--Thanksgiving-Christmas blooming cactus.

Form: Terrestrial, shade loving, succulent, leafless plant with jointedand branched stems.

Stems:

General.--Irregular with usually multichotomous branching of bothupright and pendulous, adventitiously rootable, flattened phyllocladesthat have a prominent midrib and prominently toothed lateral wings.

Phylloclades.--General: Elongated and flat with transversely elongated,areole bearing, truncated apex, with inwardly tapering basal wingmargins that merge through a broad usually pointed basal juncture withthe phylloclade therebelow, and with an axillary areole associated witheach tooth. Midrib: General -- Extends longitudinally of phylloclade andcontinuously through joints with laterally tapering cortex at winginsertions. Pith surrounding vascular bundles that branch and providelateral extensions of the bascular system to the marginal teeth. Texture-- Smooth, waxy epidermis with wax in small embedded scales and becomingcorky in basal stems areas with age. Size (2-6 mos. old) -- Length:Usually between 35 and 53 mm. with the average for respective plantspecimens being usually between 39 and 49 mm. Thickness: Usually between2.4 and 6.7 mm. with the average for respective plant specimens beingusually between 3.5 and 4.5 mm. Color (at maturity) -- Commonly moderateyellow green (5 GY 5/6) (near 5 GY 5/4), moderate olive green (5 GY 4/4)(7.5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 3/4), grayish olive green (5 GY 4/2) and/or grayishgreen (10 GY 4/2). Wings: General shape -- Generally flattened frommidrib cortex to tooth insertions with slight thinning taper towardmargins. Margins -- Toothed (modified leaves). Texture -- Succulent toleathery with smooth, waxy epidermis having wax arranged in smallembedded scales and becoming corky in basal plant areas with age. Size(2-6 mos. old) -- Center thickness: Usually between 1.4 and 3.0 mm.Width: (as measured from phylloclade axis to most offset lateralareole): Usually between 7 and 19 mm. Color (at maturity) -- Commonlymoderate yellow green (5 GY 5/6) (5 GY 5/4), moderate olive green (5 GY4/4) (7.5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 3/4), grayish olive green (5 GY 4/2) and/orgrayish green (10 GY 4/2). Teeth: General shape -- Generally flattenedand tapered along margins from wing insertions to an apex having ahyaline, single cell, pointed spine with nonpredictable bending. Adaxialmarginal shape: Usually straight to slightly concave. Abaxial marginalshape: Generally convex. Orientation -- Usually projects distally ofphylloclade base in an alternate arrangement. Margins -- Entire. Texture-- Succulent to leathery with smooth, waxy epidermis having wax in smallembedded scales and becoming corky in basal plant areas with age. Number-- Usually from 6 to 8 per phylloclade. Size (2-6 mos. old) -- Centerthickness: Usually between 0.5 and 1.2 mm. Areole to apex dimension(adaxial marginal side): Usually between 2 and 8 mm. for teeth locateddistally of basal teeth. Color (at maturity) -- Commonly moderate yellowgreen (near 5 GY 5/6) (near 5 GY 5/4), moderate olive green (5 GY 4/4)(7.5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 3/4), grayish olive green (5 GY 4/2) and/or grayishgreen (10 GY 4/2). Areoles: Terminal areole -- Large, elongated,oval-shaped with several acicular bristles, copious multi-cellularhairs, and several buds that may mature into either new phylloclades orflowers. The opposite ends of the areole are located adjacent tosubsidiary areoles which are in turn located at the axils of teeth thatare located at the distal end of phylloclade. Axillary areoles --Acicular bristles without glochidia but having short, brownish tocolorless, multi-cellular hairs. In areoles that are located below theteeth at the distal end of the phylloclade, there is usually only onebud that is frequently latent.

Buds: Unarmored, ovid and chlorophyllous at first emergence.

Flowers:

General.--Sessile, zygomorphic, usually solitary, terminal, perfect andepigynous with double hypanthium and tepals (undifferentiated whorledsepals and tepals) having a spiral emergence as a perianth provided witha sepaloid series of free tepals, a tube laminating series of tepals,and a tube forming series of united tepals.

Sepaloid series.--General: Free tepals inserted on top of ovary. Shape:Deltoid in outer members of the whorl and grading inwardly to tepalswhich are rhombic-like. All members have pointed tips and entire marginswith sparse, irregular teeth appearing mainly in apex areas of the innermembers of the whorl. Texture: Succulent and glabrous outer whorlmembers and grading inwardly in the whorl to silken blades with fleshybasal areas. Number: Usually 10 or 11. Size (at full bloom): Base-tipdimension -- Usually less than 35 mm. Maximum width dimension -- Usuallyless than 22 mm. Color: Varies from the outer members to the innermembers with the smallest outer whorl tepal usually having a continuousfield that in color is dominated by a yellow green hue. The inner whorlmembers have a translucent white basal area that extends distally in thetepal and merges with the color in the marginal blade area and which isdominated by a reddish purple hue. Commonly brilliant yellow green (near5 GY 8/8), light yellow green (5 GY 8/6), strong yellow green (5 GY 7/8)(near 5 GY 6/8) (2.5 GY 7/8) and/or moderate yellow green (5 GY 7/6) (5GY 6/6) in smallest outer whorl tepal members. Commonly strong reddishpurple (10 P 5/10) (2.5 RP 5/10) (2.5 RP 4/10) and/or moderate reddishpurple (10 P 5/8) (2.5 RP 5/8) (near 2.5 RP 5/6) in marginal blade areasof inner whorl members. Orientation at full bloom: Varying inwardly inthe whorl from erect to recurve.

Tube laminating series.--General: Tepals inserted on ovary and basallyunited below the throat as outer laminations on the perianth tube andwith progressively greater amounts of basal fusion inwardly in thewhorl. Shape: Zygomorphic with rhombic, broadly oblanceolate, andbroadly lanceolate blades having broad acute tips. Entire margins withsparse, irregular teeth mainly in apex areas. Texture: Glabrous withsilken blades. Number: Usually 3. Size (at full bloom): Base-tipdimension -- Usually between 35 and 59 mm. Maximum width dimension --Usually between 17 and 20 mm. Color: Tepals with translucent white basalareas and marginal blade areas which in color are dominated by purplishred and/or reddish purple hues that penetrate deeply into the centerfield areas for emergence with the distally extending basal areacolorations. Commonly dark purplish red (5 RP 3/8), strong reddishpurple (2.5 RP 4/10) and/or deep reddish purple (2.5 RP 3/10) inmarginal blade areas. Orientation at full bloom: Perpendicular torecurve.

Tube forming series.--General: Tepals basally united to form hollowperianth tube that is inserted on ovary and equipped at its throat witha carina that is degenerated to a generally superior extension of theperianth tube. Shape: Perianth tube -- Elongated and ellipsoidal incross section with major ellipsoidal axis arranged at generally an acuteangle with relation to the general plane of the supporting phylloclade.Blades -- Nearly zygomorphic varying from lanceolate to elliptic withacute tips. Entire margins with sparse, irregular teeth mainly in apexareas. Carina (keel) -- Degenerate and reduced to a slight superiorextension of the perianth tube. Texture: Perianth tube -- Thick,succulent and slightly ribbed. Blades -- Translucent and silken. BladeNumber: Usually 8 or 9. Size (at full bloom): Perianth tube -- Base tokeel length: Usually between 31 and 37 mm. along axis of tube withaverage length differences between measurements along dorsal and ventralside for respective specimens being usually between 1.5 and 6 mm.Internal Major axis (at throat): Usually between 8 and 12 mm. whenmeasured perpendicular to axis of perianth tube. Internal minor axis (atthroat): Usually between 5.5 and 11 mm. when measured perpendicular toaxis of perianth tube. Blades -- Length (keel to tip): Usually between30 and 39 mm. Width (maximum): Usually between 13 and 20 mm. Color (atfull bloom): Perianth tube -- A basic field that is translucent whiteand having longitudinally extending, randomly arranged striations orstreaks that in color are dominated by purple and/or purplish pink hues.Striations are commonly very pale purple (7.5 P 8/4), light purple (7.5P 7/8) (7/5 P 7/6), moderate purplish pink (10 P 7/8) (10 P 7/6) (2.5 RP7/6) (near 5 RP 7/6) and/or grayish purplish pink (near 10 P 7/4) (near2.5 RP 7/4). Blades -- A basal area which in color is dominated bypurplish pink hues and a marginal blade area that in color is dominatedby a reddish purple hue that penetrates deeply into the center field ofthe blade before emerging with the basal area coloration. Commonly palepurplish pink (near 10 P 8/4) and/or moderate purplish pink (10 P 7/8)(10 P 7/6) (near 2.5 RP 7/6) in the basal area. Commonly deep reddishpurple (near 10 P 3/10), strong reddish purple (2.5 RP 4/10), moderatereddish purple (near 2.5 RP 4/8) and/or deep reddish purple (2.5 RP3/10) (near 2.5 RP 3/8) in marginal blade areas. Carina (keel) --Translucent white. Orientation at full bloom: Acute to recurved.

Androecium (stamens).--General: Numerous exserted and diadelphousstamens with one group having filaments basally fused to the perianthtube and the other group having filaments basally united to form anectary housing, thin annulus around the style. A deflexed, irregularlytoothed margin or ruffle normally occurring at the throat of the annulusin antecedent varieties is either totally lacking or appears in adegenerate form in the instant variety. Stamen number: Tube attachedgroup -- Usually between 90 and 110. Basally united group -- Usuallybetween 17 and 22. Filaments: General -- Translucent and glabrous withanther connective. Shape -- Long, slender, terrete. Texture -- Glabrousand silken. Color -- Translucent white in basal area and in colordominated by a purplish pink hue in the distal area with the basal anddistal area colors merging generally intermediate the proximal anddistal ends. Commonly pale purplish pink (near 10 P 8/4) (2.5 RP 8/4) (5RP 8/4), light purplish pink (5 RP 8/6), moderate purplish pink (10 P7/8) (10 P 7/6) (5 RP 7/6) (7.5 RP 7/6) and/or grayish purplish pink (10P 7/4) (near 2.5 RP 7/4) in distal area. Size (at full bloom) -- Length:Tube attached group -- Usually between 48 and 63 mm. Basally unitedgroup -- Usually between 46 and 58 mm. Diameter: Usually between 0.2 and0.3 mm. intermediate the opposite ends. Anthers: General -- Adnate withfour longitudinally dehiscent pollen sacs. Shape -- Elongated. Texture-- Waxy. Color (prior to dehiscing) -- Usually pale greenish yellow (10Y 9/4) and/or (7.5 Y 9/4).

gynoecium (pistil).--General: Compound, parietal placentation withunited style surrounded by annular diffuse nectary at its insertion.Style: General -- Stout and inserted at ovary. Shape -- Elongated andterrate. Texture -- Fleshy and glabrous with short inner glutinous hairsat distal end. Color -- A translucent white in the basal area withdistal ends being in color dominated by a reddish purple hue. Commonlystrong reddish purple (near 2.5 RP 5/10) (near 2.5 RP 4/10) and/ormoderate reddish purple (near 2.5 RP 4/8) at distal end. Size (at fullbloom) -- Length: Usually between 66 and 72 mm. Diameter: Usuallybetween 0.7 and 1.0 mm. intermediate the opposite ends. Stigma: General-- Exserted and erect with usually from 5 to 7 inner marginally adheringlobes. Shape -- Elongated and tapering toward lobe tips and havingrelatively blunt apices. Texture -- Fleshy and smooth with shortglutinous hairs. Color -- Commonly very pale purple (7.5 P 8/4), palepurplish pink (10 P 8/4) (near 2.5 RP 8/4), moderate purplish pink (2.5RP 7/6) and/or grayish purplish pink (2.5 RP 7/4). Size (lobe length atfull bloom) -- Usually between 3.4 and 5.8 mm. Ovary: Generally --Epigynous with thin epidermis and distally located concavity and with asingle cavity having usually 5 to 6 carpels with numerous ovules. Shape-- Ribbed and terrete and generally broadening from insertion to floralend. Texture -- Succulent and glabrous with thin outer epidermis. Color-- Commonly strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) (5 GY 7/8) (near 5 GY 6/8),moderate yellow green (5GY 7/6) (5GY 6/6), light yellow green (5 GY 8/6)and/or brilliant yellow green (near 5 GY 8/8). Size (at full bloom) --Length (insertion to concavity base):Usually between 9 and 13 mm. Majoraxis (distal end of concavity): Usually between 8 and 11 mm. Minor axis(distal end of concavity): Usually between 6 and 10 mm.

Growing characteristics: An upright and compact (dense) appearanceevidenced by erect stems with heavy (frequent) branching. A fast growthrate productive of more phylloclades than the `Lavender Doll` and `KrisKringle` varieties without inducement by prunning during the growthperiod preceding blooming and a resistance to bud abscission that issubstantially greater than the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle`varieties. A resistance to fungus diseases and nutrient deficienciesthat is comparable to those of the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle`varieties and a greater natural tendency to branch without inducement bypruning than the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties. Adegenerate carina in a bloom appearingly magenta in coloration. A bloomwhich commonly occurs about 1 week to 3 weeks later in the bloomingseason than those of the `Lavender Doll` variety grown under comparableconditions and having a bloom life from about 6 to about 9 days.

The following is a general description of a specimen of the new plantvariety that was grown from the propagation of a single phylloclade in anursery at Winter Garden, Fla.

Age of plant: 6 months from initial propagation.

Branches from propagated cutting: 2.

Total number of phylloclades grown from cutting: 16.

General:

    ______________________________________                                        Branch No.                                                                             No. of Phylloclades                                                                          Max. Length                                                                              No. of Tips                                ______________________________________                                        1        7              144 mm.    4                                          2        9              176 mm.    5                                          ______________________________________                                    

Midribs:

    ______________________________________                                        Branch No.  Length (avg.)                                                                             Thickness (avg.)                                      ______________________________________                                        1           48 mm.      3.8 mm.                                               2           47 mm.      4.0mm.                                                ______________________________________                                    

Wings:

    ______________________________________                                        Branch No.                                                                             Center Thickness (avg.)                                                                        Max. Width (avg.)                                   ______________________________________                                        1        1.8 mm.          10.6 mm.                                            2        1.8 mm.          12.8 mm.                                            ______________________________________                                    

Teeth:

    ______________________________________                                                                        Areole                                                                        to Apex                                                             Center    Dimen- Tooth                                          No./Phylloclades                                                                            Thickness sion   Angle                                  Branch No.                                                                            (avg.)        (avg.)    (avg.) (avg.)                                 ______________________________________                                        1       7              .78 mm.  4.8 mm.                                       2       7             1.1  mm.  4.1 mm.                                       ______________________________________                                    

Phylloclade color: Moderate yellow green (5 GY 5/4) and moderate olivegreen (7.5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 3/4).

the following is a general description of a flower of the new plantvariety which was bloomed in December on a plant grown under shadedglasshouse nursery conditions in Winter Garden, Fla.

Number of buds and blooms: 11.

Bloom life: 7 days.

Sepaloid series of tepals:

Number.--10.

Size (at full bloom).--Maximum base-tip dimension: 35 mm. Minimumbase-tip dimension: 4 mm. Maximum width dimension: 21 mm.

Color.--Moderate yellow green (5 GY 7/6) (5GY 6/6) in continuous fieldof smaller tepals. Strong reddish purple (10 P 5/10) in marginal areasof the inner members and a translucent white basal area extending intothe tepal.

Tube laminating series:

Number.--3.

Size (at full bloom).--Maximum base-tip dimension: 58 mm. Minimumbase-tip dimension: 37 mm. Maximum width dimension: 19 mm. Minimum widthdimension: 18 mm.

Color.--Strong reddish purple (2.5 RP 4/10) in marginal blade areas andtranslucent white in basal areas.

Tube forming series of tepals:

Number.--8.

Size (at full bloom).--Perianth tube: Base to keel length -- 33 mm.Interior Major axis (at throat) -- 10 mm. Interior minor axis (atthroat) -- 8 mm. Blades: Maximum length (keel to tip) -- 37 mm. Minimumlength (keel to tip) -- 32 mm. Maximum width -- 18 mm. Minimum width --15 mm.

Color.--Perianth tube: A major field of translucent white with randomstriations of light purple (7.5 P 7/8) (7.5 P 7/6). Blades: Moderatepurplish pink basel areas (10 P 7/8) (10 P 7/6) and a distal andmarginal blade area that in color is strong reddish purple (2.5 RP4/10). Carina (keel): Carina absent.

Androecium:

Stamen number.--Tube attached group: 99. Basally united group: 18.

Filaments.--Color: Translucent white in proximal area and moderatepurplish pink (10 P 7/8) (10 P 7/6) in distal portion. Size (at fullbloom): Length -- Tube attached group: 51 mm. (avg.). Basally unitedgroup: 53 mm. (avg.). Diameter -- 0.25 mm. intermediate the oppositeends.

Anthers.--Color (before dehiscing): Pale greenish yellow (10 Y 9/4).

Gynoecium (pistil):

Style.--Color: Translucent white in proximal area and strong reddishpurple (near 2.5 RP 4/10) in distal area. Size (at full bloom): Length-- 71 mm. Diameter -- About 0.8 mm. intermediate the opposite ends.

Stigma.--Color: Moderate purplish pink (2.5 RP 7/6). Size (lobe length):3.6 mm. (avg.).

Ovary.--Color: Strong yellow green (5GY 7/8) (2.5GY 7/8). Size (at fullbloom): Length (insertion to concavity base) -- 12 mm. Major axis(distal end of concavity) -- 9 mm. Minor axis (distal end of concavity)-- 8.5 mm.

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae familyas described and illustrated and which has a growth habit providingspecimens that combine the following principal distinguishingcharacteristics:1. Upright, compact appearing specimens that incomparison to the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties have afaster growth rate with a greater natural tendency to branch and producea larger number of phylloclades without inducement by pruning during thegrowth period prior to blooming,
 2. Phylloclades with commonly smallerwidth and length dimensions than those of the `Lavender Doll` variety,3. A substantially greater resistance to flower bud abscission than the`Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties and resistances to nutrientdeficiencies and fungus type diseases that are comparable to those ofthe `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties, and
 4. A bloom whichcommonly occurs from about 1 week to 3 weeks later than those of the`Lavender Doll` variety and hasa. A bloom life of from about 6 to about9 days, b. tube laminating and tube forming tepals with marginal bladeareas that in color are dominated by reddish purple and/or purplish redhues which penetrate deeply into the center field areas of the tepalblades, c. A perianth tube with a basic field that is translucent whiteand provided with randomly arranged, longitudinally extending streaksthat in color are dominated by purplish pink hues, d. A carina which hasdegenerated to a generally superior extension of the perianth tube, ande. A style that is generally longer than those of the `Lavender Doll`and `Kris Kringle` varieties.